Idriss Azami Al Idrissi, head of Morocco’s National Council of the Justice and Development Party and the mayor of Fez, slammed head of National Rally of Independents (RNI) and agriculture minister Aziz Akhannouch, saying he was not qualified to serve as prime minister because he is “dominating the economy”.
He explained that a prime minister should manage the country and its interests, while Akhannouch would limit foreign and local investment because of a conflict of interest given his economic clout in Morocco.
He added that Akhannouch is monopolizing the fuels sector in Morocco and owns a company that sells oxygen.
Al Idrissi urged the need to name an impartial prime minister who sets public interests above his own, noting that Akhannouch’s wealth had actually grown during the coronavirus pandemic when businesses were incurring major losses.
The greatest challenge looming on the horizon in Morocco during the September 8 polls is the “cartel of money, authority and media,” he warned.
Al Idrissi noted Akhannouch’s influence over the media, saying his party has swept social media with paid electoral campaigns.
“Such influence could undermine freedom of expression,” he warned.
